Author's Note:

Hi there...it's uh… certainly been a while, hasn't it? And would you believe this is the second time I've taken a two year hiatus from writing due to burnout? What can I say? The stress from COVID-19 combined with writing the same story for months kind of got to me. It was to the point where I felt physically ill every time I tried to write another chapter. It was that bad.

I understand that some people will be disappointed that I'm putting that particular story on hold. But until I feel that passion again, I'm not going to force myself to write it and have it turn out bad because then no one is happy.

So, after two years of taking a break with the occasional attempt to make a comeback sprinkled in. I finally have something I feel comfortable with posting online for everyone.

This particular idea was heavily influenced by Digimon Survive (fantastic game BTW, you should give it a try if you haven't already). Specifically, I wanted to see if I could do a darker Digimon story like Survive. Of course, this story also took influence from… a certain anime… you know the one. It was probably the first thing that entered your head when you saw the title or, if you're on Fanfiction, read the premise.

I should point out I only ever saw a few episodes of SAO a very long time ago and I'm more familiar with the Abridged series, so there won't be any intentional copying on my part. In fact I came up with the idea while watching SAO abridged so take that for what it's worth.

If you have suggestions, questions, or critiques you wish to share with me, feel free to leave a review. I might not respond to everyone but I do read every review and comment I get. Constructive criticism is always welcome here, because how else is a dum-dum like me ever going to learn? Just make sure it's actually criticism and not "your story is stupid and so is your face!" because that's just mean and doesn't help me at all.

Digimon is owned by Bandai and Toei Animation. I am but a humble fan who does this as a hobby between downing cans of DrPepper and playing old sports games. I do not, and never plan to, claim ownership over anything in this story other than the original characters and concepts I plunked into this thing. But even then, I don't really care all that much if other people use them… it's a free country.

With that wall of text out of the way, let's begin our story!

Prologue

Just outside of File City…

Gallantmon…

I couldn't help but stare down at the city, remembering when it once was a beacon of hope and prosperity for the Digital World. A sign of how far things had come since the days when Digimon barely understood their own existences. But now? Now it was nothing more than a symbol for our world's capitulation towards the strangers that now roamed its streets.

They came seven years ago… and over those seven years innocent Digimon had suffered greatly. The chaos these creatures had wrought… the fear they instilled. It angered me to no end. But yet I still felt a tinge of conflict within myself this rainy night.

Was what we were about to do to these creatures right? Or were we simply imposing our own will upon them as they had upon our own world? The questions gnawed at my mind since the very moment Omnimon had informed me of the King's plans.

"I figured I'd find you out here."

Speak of the devil. I turned to see Omnimon had returned from his meeting with Alphamon and King Drasil. "So, the plan is moving forward?" I asked.

Omnimon nodded. "The "game" is to go free to play tomorrow, which means more invaders will come and things will only get worse if we don't act swiftly," he informed me.

I had heard rumors of this. This kind of unrestricted access to our world would prove devastating to its people if we didn't act. But still… "Omnimon… be honest with me, is what we're about to do…. Is it right?" I asked.

Omnimon sighed, "I've asked myself the same question more than I'd like to admit," he confessed. "But our duty as Royal Knights dictate we must take action to protect the Digital World, this threat these invaders represent cannot go unchallenged."

I knew he was right, but it didn't exactly answer my question. "But is it right, Omnimon?" I insisted.

Omnimon looked down at the city, its lights causing his wet armor to glisten like crystal. "It's right for the Digital World, and if all goes smoothly, none of these invaders will be harmed," he told me.

"Deaths are inevitable," I said.

"And how many more would die if things went on like this?" Omnimon asked me. "Our people are suffering, Gallentmon, you heard what our king said, if things go on like this then our world won't survive!" he explained. "A few deaths, to save millions, is a price I'm willing to pay."

It still felt wrong. These creatures knew not the damage they were doing. They all believed it to be a game. Harmless fun. It felt harsh to punish ignorance with death. But… Omnimon was right… The strain all of this death and carnage was inflicting upon the Digital World would shatter its very fabric. The process of rebirth all Digimon underwent was pushed to its breaking point according to King Drasil. The madness needed to end.

"Who is our king sending to commit the deed?" I asked.

"You, myself, and Leopardmon," He told me.

I was shocked! "Leopardmon?! But King Drasil knows full well his hatred of these creatures! What if he decides to just slaughter them all?!" I asked.

"I've already informed Leopardmon that he is not to take their lives," Omnimon assured me.

"And you're sure he will listen?" I asked.

"He'd best, we have no hope of success if he acts against my orders," Omnimon said. "We need them alive if we are to get their world to listen to our King's demands."

I lowered my head, of all the knights to send on this mission… Leopardmon had been so insistent that we just kill the invaders and be done with it. He and Omnimon often clashed over this. But if it was King Drasil's will that he join us on this quest, who was I to argue?

Omnimon then took something out from a satchel I hadn't noticed he was carrying until now. "But still, I'd rather entrust you with this," he said before taking something out of the satchel. It was a glowing green data cluster. One of King Drasil's programs that would help us enact his plan.

"You wish to entrust me with… that?" I asked.

Omnimon placed it back in the satchel. "Indeed, you are the only one I can count on to keep it safe until its use is needed," he explained. "I would carry it myself, but I fear my doubts will cause me to destroy it before it is needed."

"What makes you so sure I wouldn't do the same? I have the same doubts as you," I asked.

"Because you always put your duty to this world above all else," he said as he handed me the satchel. "You would not give into temptation as I would."

I held the satchel in my hands. The weight of this responsibility was great. For I held the very fate of the Digital World in my hands. "I will guard it with my life, Omnimon," I said.

"I know you will," he replied.

"When are we going to enact the plan? At dawn? Or dusk?" I asked him.

"At sunset, when the player count is at its highest," he answered.

Omnimon then looked around, "Speaking of time, it is time we should retire for the night," he informed me. "We have an important task ahead of us tomorrow and I want us rested in case something happens."

With an exchange of nods, Omnimon left. Before I followed, I took one last look at File City. The invaders down there had no clue what awaited them tomorrow.

For tomorrow… we strike back at humanity.